Refrigerator and its construction



Nov. 11, 1952 c, D. HOPKINS REFRIGERATOR AND ITS CONSTRUCTION 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1947 lA/VE'N W Nov. 11, 1952 c HOPKINS 4 2,617,551

REFRIGERATOR AND ITS CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 8, 1947 2 SHEETS-Sl-1EET 2 ENTOR CZECH-ID. HOPKINS INV Patented Nov. 11, 1952 REFRIGERATOR AND ITS CONSTRUCTION Cecil D. Hopkins, Madras, reg., assignor to William Krielaus, Oswego, Oreg.

Application January 8, 1947, Serial No. 720,783

1 Claim. (01. 220-9) This invention relates to improvements in refrigerators, freezing units of either the home or commercial type, and has for its principal object to provide such units with insulation between their inner and outer Walls by a vacuum therebetween.

A further object resides in the particular structure of the inner and outer walls and the spacing and reinforcing means therebetween to prevent collapse or distortion of the walls when the vacuum is applied.

A still further object is the provision of a wall structure made up of sections, and means associated therewith for serving the dual purpose of securing the sections securely together in panel or wall formation and to establish an absolute seal between said sections to hold the vacuum.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a home refrigerator unit installed in accordanc with my invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fragment of a double wall structure.

Figure 3 is a detail view of means for sealing a tubular extension through the walls.

Figure 4 is' a perspective view of a modification of the invention as applied to refrigerators or freezing units of the walk-in type.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a plurality of typical blocks or plates used in the construction of the walls, and also illustrating means for joining the walls in leak-proof abutment and assembly with each other.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view through any of the abutting surfaces of the blocks, such for instance as along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the fastening lugs cast integral with the blocks.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a, pair of coacting spacing and reinforcing lugs.

Referring now more particularly to the drawmgs.

Th refrigerator shown in Figure 1 consists of a cabinet of any desired shape having the usual spaced apart outer and inner walls I and 2, respectively, preferably made of metal. The interior of the cabinet is provided with the usual freezing unit 3 connected with the intake and outlet refrigerant pipes 4 and 5, respectively,

which extend through any of the spaced apart double walls at any convenient location.

The entire space between the inner and outer walls surrounding the top, bottom, side, and rear walls of the cabinet is lined with sheets of glass 1 which are reinforced against collapse under a vacuum by webs 8. All of the glass walls and webs are molded integral with each other into a single unit for convenient installation in a refrigerator during the process of its manufacture.

The space between the glass walls is completely sealed ither in the molding operation or by subsequent application of sealing means for retaining a vacuum for completely insulating the space between the inner and outer walls of the cabinet. The vacuum is applied between the glass walls during the manufacture of the unit and is permanently sealed therein by any approved method. I may also provide a fitting for this purpose or for the purpose of increasing or replenishing the vacuum if necessary or desired. The fitting consists of a tube 9 extending through an aperture through one of the walls and sealed with respect thereto, by means of rubber washers, or the like, indicated at l0, and which are compressed on both sides of the glass by nuts II and 12 on the threaded surface of the tube 9. Any approved type of cap is provided for sealing the end of the tube after the vacuum is applied.

The refrigerator intake or outlet tubes 4 and 5 are likewise sealed by rubber washers 13 as they pass through the inner and outer walls and the glass walls 7 and a bushing I4 therebetween for reinforcement. The tubes may of course extend through said walls at any convenient location.

The double wall structure shown in Figure 4 is best suited for the large type of commercial refrigerator or freezing units of the walk-in type. Each of its inner and outer walls generally indicated at I4 and I5, respectively, is made up of a plurality of blocks I5A, cast of any suitable material such as aluminum or the like. The blocks are formed with tongues and grooves around their outermost edges as shown. Each block is provided with two or more lugs 16 which are cast as an integral part of the block. The lug is apertured as at I! for the passage of bolts l8 therethrough. The bolts may extend lengthwise of each block or crosswise with respect thereto as shown. In either case the head of the bolt bears against one lug while the nut on the opposite end of the bolt bears against the companion lug. Advancement of the nuts on their respective bolts draw the blocks together and holds them securely united. To render the joints between the blocks air-tight I place a seal 19 in the form of a strip of lead or the like between the abutting edges of the blocks as best illustrated in Figure 6.

To serve as spacers between the walls and to reinforce them against collapse or distortion under a vacuum I provide a depending lug 20 from one block and a companion lug 2| from the other block. These lugs are located near the ends or sides of the blocks so that a fastening bolt 22 may be conveniently passed through them to receive a nut on the inner end. To further reinforce the blocks I also provide additional lugs 22A at or near their centers.

Both inner and outer walls are interconnected at their adjoining ends and edges by blocks 23 of curved form, as shown, and provided with tongue and grooves along their edges.

When both the walls are spaced apart, and assembled into a cabinet, the air space between them is completely sealed and the required vacuum to said space is applied and maintained through any approved typev of fitting such as that illustrated in Figure 2 and extending through any one of the blocks at any convenient location. In either of the refrigerating units a mechanical means may be used for applying or maintaining the vacuum between the walls, the same being automatically controlled and preferably driven by thesame motor as that. used for operatin the refrigerating unit.

Although I have shownand described the walls of the home type unit as. made of glass, and the walls of the walk-in type as of cast aluminum, I do not. wish to be limited to. those particular materials, since, obviously, a Variety of east or welded materials could be used to obtain satisfactory and efii'cient results.

While I have shown a particular form of em- .bodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention: what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

A refrigerator cabinet having spaced apart inner and outer walls, a unitary insert disposed between said walls of the cabinet and bearing thereagainst to form a lining therefor, said insert comprising spaced apart inner and outer walls, spaced apart webs disposed between said last mentioned walls and molded integrally along both of their sides with said last mentioned walls, and a tube extending through said firstmentioned outerwall and through said secondmentioned outer wall and in open communication with the space between said last mentioned inner and outer walls for applying a vacuum to said space.

CECIL D. HOPKINS. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED'STATES PATENTS 

